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Introduction: In Russia, the notion of a “demographic crisis” is invoked to legitimize pro-natalist policies. Among these is an effort to dissuade 15% of abortion-seekers from going through with the procedure, through the imposition of mandatory ultrasounds to “hear the heartbeat” and health-risk warnings in compulsory “pre-abortion consultations,” followed by reflection periods and formal “informed consent” procedures. While first-trimester abortion remains legally available on request, procedural barriers have increasingly proliferated. Method: This article analyzes a corpus of legislation and official documents on abortion issued by the Russian Ministry of Health between 2006 to 2022, using tools from the sociology of ignorance (agnotology). Results: The production of ignorance is at the heart of this policy, which systematically conceals demographic data, medical evidence, and controversies deemed undesirable. On this basis, reductions in abortion numbers are framed as contributing to increased birth rates. Moreover, abortion seekers are subjected to biased—and at times inaccurate—warnings regarding the physical and mental health risks of abortion (including future fertility) and fetal development. In particular, the risks of abortion are never contextualized or compared to the higher risks associated with continuing a pregnancy. Discussion: Even where abortion remains legally available on request, health policies may undermine women’s reproductive autonomy by fostering ignorance—particularly through the dissemination of misleading or incomplete information about abortion’s alleged dangers.